Explore the presentation of Faustus in the opening scenes.

Extracts from this document...

Introduction

Explore the presentation of Faustus in the opening scenes. Marlowe uses many techniques to introduce Faustus to the audience within the first few scenes and even from such an early stage in the play the complexity of his character is made apparent, creating a desire for the audience to want to further engage with Faustus in order to try and understand his personality and nature. Through the use of the prologue Marlowe gives a brief history of Faustus life highlighting his success at studying and his lack of content, which followed. Marlowe warns the audience that Faustus will become involved in 'devilish exercise' which is interesting as from the very beginning the audience are anticipating Faustus' fall, knowing that he is a highly skilled man. Through Marlowe presenting Faustus in such a detached way in the prologue, using just simple facts, suspense is created as the audience await the reasons behind such an educated man's decision to become involved in activities that would with certainty condemn him to hell. ...read more.

Middle

Marlowe does use them for this purpose to some extent but they seem to reveal more about Faustus character as in them he is continuously evaluating himself. Such soliloquies are interesting devices of Marlowe's as they can be interpreted in so many different ways. Perhaps Faustus can be seen as mad, talking to himself, to an audience in Marlowe's time they may see this as most feasible, just because Faustus has even considered meddling in magic. On the other hand Faustus could be seen as stepping back and trying to assess himself from a detached position, which could be a good skill, yet only if done accurately, as we see it is not. Marlowe uses Faustus' own words to expose his weaknesses. For example in his initial speech the quotations he uses from the bible are selective, so as to give only a negatives view of religion. 'If we say we that we have no sin, We deceive ourselves, and there's no truth in us.' ...read more.

Conclusion

Marlowe shows this through having Faustus tell Mephastophilis to reappear in a different form, one more aesthetically pleasing, with less reminder of hell. Even early on in the play Marlowe makes it clear that despite Faustus being so academic he is willing to be oblivious to things that contradict the world, as he wants to see it, despite its consequences. This concept is continued in that even the clown realises the soul is worth a lot, yet Faustus, a learned man does not feel he has paid too dearly. In the first few scenes Marlowe focuses on Faustus extensive academic knowledge, mainly through the use of language, to show how ones own ignorance can be the downfall of even the most educated. Faustus' reoccurring blindness to reality is continuously reinforced, as is the religious theme. Marlowe presents his audience with a character complex in their nature and in the issues concerning them, to such an extreme that the audience is left intrigued to discover why such a clever man does not manage to overcome his blindness and redeem himself. Jemma Millhouse ...read more.

Found what you're looking for?

Start learning 29% faster today

150,000+ documents available

Just £6.99 a month

or

Here's what a teacher thought of this essay

3 star(s)

Appropriate general issues are raised here, but are often not supported by close reference and quotation, which are essential when writing about literature.
More focus on the language of the text would help the writer reach more accurate and convincing interpretations.

Related AS and A Level Christopher Marlowe essays

In addition, Faustus wishes to be pleasured sexually exploring the woman for new treasures. This is evident in Faustus's conversation with Valdes in Act one Scene one. However, once again Faustus wishes are not fulfilled and his dreams are only lived in words.

Indeed this imposing style of commentary is mirrored in the second chorus, which introduces Faustus's actions in Rome. The opening chorus refers to Roman Mythology, 'Where Mars did mate the Carthaginians', perhaps alluding to Faustus's ambitions to be as powerful as the gods.

But now the span of time, quite contrary to his expectation, gradually diminishes even when he talks or soliloquizes! This indicates the limitation of the individual man in this universe. Faustus urges the "ugly hell" to "gape not", but things are no more in his control as they were in the first scene.

Faustus is seemingly unaware of these two characters (which perhaps suggests that they are rather states of mind than physical beings) but continues to rhapsodise on the varied ways he will use his power. Marlowe uses poetic language, and Faustus speech is more like a love song than a soliloquy:

to be caught up in greed like Faustus, because if you do you will go to hell. The audience are taken aback in Scene 12 when Faustus says 'Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss', Faustus indicates sexual desire towards a devil.

fast at that time that if the next King or Queen happened to be Catholic, Marlowe's work could have been seen to be blasphemous, which could have even put his life at risk! Scene Three is only a point of low comedy because it does not mirror any other events in the play.

His pride causes him to choose wealth over freedom because that gives him more power. Yet, in the end, power will not save his soul but instead, destroys it. Faustus's flaw, hubris, is also portrayed when he uses magic for trickery rather than knowledge.

However, unlike Chaucer, Marlowe does not present Faustus as being a character wholly drenched in sin. Faustus is far more wavering, and indeed has many occasions in the play where he is unsure about what he is doing. This leads the audience to develop a somewhat sympathetic relationship with Faustus, which is totally different from our condemnation of the Pardoner.